Not Wright now

Brandan Wright is enjoying being a teenager again. Now that the AAU season is over, the 6-foot-9, 201-pound power forward from Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy is sleeping in long past sunrise, mastering his favorite sports video games and watching late night television. His relaxation time is growing short because he's gearing up for a flurry of visits in the fall.

Wright and his Murfreesboro Stars AAU club played at all of the major events and Wright enjoyed a return engagement to the Nike All-American camp. Now that he's sleeping in his own bed, the five-star prospect is enjoying the time away from the hardwood.

"It's good to take a break from playing," Wright said. "It was a real, real busy summer. Now I've been able to sit back and reflect on the way I played but it's also nice knowing that I don't have worry about getting up early or traveling all over the place. I can just relax."

In between running to the store to pick up the newest Madden football video game, Wright has had a chance to contemplate his successful July. After all, he is the No. 5 ranked player in the class of 2006 and played like it at some of the biggest events of the summer.

"I think I started slow in the spring down in Dallas and in New Orleans but I picked it up at the Nike camp and the Peach Jam and down in Florida," Wright said. "I fell like I finished the back end really well. That's what I wanted because I didn't want to end the summer with a sour taste in my mouth."

Did a specific tournament stand out to the big fella?

"It had to be the Peach Jam," he said. "We only had seven players so going down there we knew we all had an opportunity to do a lot of things. We could have easily laid down but we didn't. We played hard.

Wright averaged 22 points a game and helped the Stars finish 4-2 in a talent-heavy tournament. He squared off against guys like Vernon Macklin, Duke Crews, DeShawn Sims, Bryce Webster and others. The Boo Williams team was the only squad that really seemed to have Wright's number.

"They were tough. It seemed like if I got past one, they had three other guys waiting for me," Wright said.

Now waiting for Wright are trips to Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina. They've long been his top three. Coaches from each program shadowed the big man all summer long. He never played a game without a Blue Devil, Wildcat or Tar Heel on the sideline.

Wright has unofficially visited Duke and North Carolina during the basketball season, making trips to the Triangle for games at Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Dean Dome. Not a bad set of games to visit. He has not been to Lexington, Kentucky yet. Scheduling conflicts kept him out of Wildcat country but he's been to the town for a high school tournament. Don't be surprised to see UK get one of the first official visits.

Each school is equal right now, he said, so the visits could hold some decision making power. Wright said he's looking forward to getting on campus to interact with the players and people involved at each school.

"It carries some weight but you pretty much know what you are getting already with these schools," Wright said. "The visits are good for talking to the players, seeing where they live and looking at the school and campus when it's really busy. I already know that every one of the schools that I'm looking at are really good."

Wright said he'd like to have his visits set up before Labor Day but don't be surprised to see him take some trips on his own.

"I know I'll take at least four (official visits) but getting the dates set up will be kind of hard," Wright said. "My brother plays football and I don't like to miss his games. I might take a couple of unofficial visits, too."

Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Kansas are also being considered, Wright said. Now it's a matter of picking which school gets an official visit and possibly an unofficial visit.

With so many schools and the race tight as ever, Wright said his decision may come a little later than some might expect.

"Not necessarily," Wright said on the possibility of signing in November during the early signing period. "I don't think I'll be able to make a decision that really. I'd say it's about 50-50 right now."

The waiting game is on. That is why Wright is taking it easy now.